Holders of a travel document for Palestinian stateless/refugees which has been issued by Egypt, Lebanon or Syria need an airport transit visa ((A 1951 Convention travel document/ A 1954 Convention travel document).

Holders of a travel document issued by the Palestinian Authority (PA) do not require an airport transit visa.

Attention: Kindly note that should your transit route through Schengen consist of more than two stops you need a Schengen visa (type C visa), even if you do not leave the airport. Example: Flight from Dubai – Paris -Frankfurt – Chicago.

Exemptions

If your nationality appears on this list, check whether you have an exemption. An airport transit visa is also not required if you:

Visa Fee

Please note that VFS Global offers an additional optional service for visa applicants in South Africa. VFS Charges an extra service fee for this service, to be paid by the applicant.

For the official visa fees charged by the Dutch government, click here.

VFS service charge:

Apart from the visa fee, VFS service charge in ZAR 370 (for submission with biometrics) inclusive of VAT per application will be levied for applicants applying at the visa application centre.

The only acceptable modes of payment of Visa fees are by credit/debit card (Only at the Visa Application Centre) and Cash Deposit at Bank and Deposit Slip (Original) needs to be carried as evidence of payments when submitting your application at VFS Global Netherlands Visa Application Centre.

The VFS Global Service fee will be collected at the counter:-
Visa Account details:

Not Accepted
It is important that the following methods of payment will not be accepted: Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT), Cheque payments and any methods not mentioned above are currently not accepted. Please note that NO Diners club or American express cards can be used to pay for the application.

Passport, valid for a period of at least 3 months after the applicant’s last day of stay in the Schengen states. Please ensure that the passport has 2 blank pages.

If not a South African citizen, a residence permit valid for a period of at least 3 months after the applicant’s last day of stay in the Schengen States.

Flight reservation (no ticket).

Travel/health/accident insurance: an insurance policy stating that the applicant is covered by a Schengen Travel Medical Insurance. i.e. minimum medical coverage of the Rand equivalent of €30,000.00 for all medical expenses, including repatriation dead or alive, occurring in any Schengen country.

If the child is traveling alone: Permission minor child consent form signed by both parents with a copy of their passport or driver’s license. If the child travels with only one parent, the other parent must sign the permission minor child consent form with a copy of their passport or driver’s license. If only one parent has guardianship of the minor, court documents stating so must be presented.

Photo Specifications

Note: The photographs submitted must meet with these specifications.

Please provide One recent photograph (not more than 3 months old) of yourself. The photographs should be in colour and:

Taken against a light background (white or off-white) so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.

Clear share quality and with the face in focus.

Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print).

Full face, non-smiling [without sunglasses, a hat/cap or other head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of their religious belief or ethnic background].

Note: Please follow these instructions carefully. If photographs presented do not meet these requirements your application will be considered incomplete. Kindly download the Photo Specification file for more information.

Processing Time

The visa processing time is 10 working days under normal circumstances.

In case a nationality should be consulted with by other Schengen partners, the visa process will take longer. Please check at VFS if your nationality needs consultation before applying for your visa.

The Dutch Representation is entitled to request more (supporting) information from the applicant. Please be aware that the visa processing time in this case can take longer.

Applications submitted within 10 working days from departure can only be accepted based on well motivated & urgent arguments of the applicant (for example humanitarian: illness, death etc.) and after consultation with the Dutch Representation in Pretoria. Intake will take place at own responsibility of the applicant. The visa fee as well as the VFS fee(s) will not be returned if the intended departure date can not be met.

It may take considerably longer if any documents are missing or if further information is required. You are therefore advised to submit your application well before the date on which you are planning to travel.

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days. Applicants are advised to leave enough time between the appointment date and travel date to have their visa application processed. No guarantees can be given on the visa application’s return date as delays may occur.